[Results of the assessment procedure for dentists with a foreign degree in the Netherlands]. / Resultaten van de toetsingsprocedure van tandartsen met een buitenlands diploma.

During the period from 1 January 2007 to 1 January 2017, 138 dentists with a foreign dental degree (obtained outside the European Economic Area or Switzerland) who wanted to practice dentistry in the Netherlands have undertaken the assessment procedure to obtain a certificate of professional competence. The procedure comprises a Dutch language proficiency and communications test, followed by tests of competence specific to the dental profession. For 68 dentists (49%), no deficiencies in knowledge or skills were identified. They could register in the BIG-register [for healthcare professionals] for the supervisory period. For 49 (36%), the deficiencies could be eliminated with specific training. In the case of 21 dentists (15%), training was not possible. The number of dentists from this group who were enrolled in the BIG-register in 2017 was determined. On the reference date, 100 dentists (73%) were enrolled. Of the 49 dentists who were permitted to participate in a specific educational programme, 48 had started such a programme: 38 had completed it by 2017, 9 are still actively involved, and 1 stopped the programme. If they complete the programme, the number of dentists who have been enrolled in the BIG-register after [successfully] finishing the assessment procedure could rise to 115 (83%).

[Assessment of physicians with a foreign diploma; results of 10 years of testing of physicians with a foreign diploma]. / Toetsing van artsen met een buitenlands diploma.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the result of the assessment procedure, initiated on 1 December 2005, for physicians with a foreign diploma who wish to practice in the Netherlands. DESIGN: Retrospective, descriptive study. METHOD: The Commission for Foreign Healthcare Graduates (CBGV) collected data on physicians with a foreign diploma who followed the procedure for requesting a declaration of professional competence and admission to the Dutch Individual Healthcare Professions (BIG) register between December 2005 - December 2015. The procedure comprises a language and communication test, followed by tests of professional competence. On the grounds of the test results, the CBGV can decide if a physician should follow a specific training course. The number of physicians who ultimately obtained BIG registration was determined. RESULTS: During the study period, 183 of the 206 physicians with a foreign diploma passed the general knowledge and skills tests. A total of 176 of the 183 physicians took the professional competence tests. In 43 (25%) of them no shortcomings in knowledge and skills were seen. They were registered in the BIG register for a period of supervision. In 129 (73%), shortfalls were made up by means of focused training programme. In 4 (2%) of them no training was possible. On the date of assessment, 137 (78%) physicians were registered. This number is expected to rise to 151 (86%). CONCLUSION: The provision of a further course of training that is focused on the elimination of identified shortcomings in physicians with a foreign diploma, increases the percentage of foreign physicians that are successfully admitted to the BIG register.

Increasing the coverage of vaccination against influenza by general practitioners.

BACKGROUND: To increase the coverage of influenza vaccination in groups of patients at risk, an experiment was conducted in 1993, aimed at logistic support of general practitioners (GPs). METHODS: Support was given to 56 GPs with 133,000 patients to select and invite patients at risk. The coverage of vaccination as a result of this experiment has been compared with the results obtained from the Health Interview Survey, in The Netherlands as a total. RESULTS About 15,000 patients at risk were invited for vaccination, of whom 75.5 per cent were vaccinated. In The Netherlands as a total, the coverage of patients at risk was 43 per cent. CONCLUSION: Because the selection and invitation of patients at risk is still a problem for many GPs, owing to the lack of computerization, logistic support can ease these tasks and thus help increase the coverage of vaccination against influenza in groups of patients at risk.

[Increase of degree of vaccination against influenza in at-risk patients by directed primary care invitation]. / Verhoging van de vaccinatiegraad tegen influenza bij risicopatiënten door gerichte uitnodiging in de eerste lijn.

OBJECTIVE: To increase the coverage of influenza vaccination by a programmatic approach in a large population, aimed at the general practitioners (GPs). DESIGN: Intervention study (prospective). SETTING: The region of central Brabant (Tilburg and some surrounding communities), the Netherlands. METHOD: The intervention was carried out in a population of 133,000 people (registered at 42 offices of 56 GPs, and at 27 pharmacies). Medication data from pharmacists were used for the selection of patients at risk by the GPs. RESULTS: About 15,000 patients were selected by the GPs and invited for vaccination. The (final) coverage was 75.5% in 1993, a 56% increase over 1992. The increase in the group of comparable but non-participating GPs was 18%, in the Netherlands as a whole it was 8%. CONCLUSION: It is quite possible to achieve a considerable increase of the coverage of influenza vaccination.

Sexually transmitted diseases reported by STD services in The Netherlands, 1984-1990.

OBJECTIVE: To present general trends in sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the Netherlands during the period 1984-1990 and to describe characteristics of the patients in order to get insight into possible factors underlying these trends. METHODS: Since 1984 patients diagnosed with STD visiting STD clinics and local public health services in the Netherlands are reported by the nursing staffs. In addition to diagnosis and gender of the patient epidemiological background information is registered. The reported annual cases of gonorrhoea, syphilis and Chlamydia trachomatis infections are presented. Further, the epidemiological features of over 25,000 patients with infections due to Chlamydia trachomatis, gonorrhoea or syphilis infections were compared. RESULTS: During the period 1984-1990 an overall decrease in the total number of gonorrhoea infections was reported; among homosexual males; however, an increase in gonorrhoea rates and an increasing number of sexual partners after 1989 was reported. Furthermore, the percentage of gonorrhoea infections caused by penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae was found to be on the increase in various subgroups but not in homosexual males. Syphilis rates among females declined from 1984 to 1987 after which an increase was reported reaching a peak in 1989; syphilis rates among males peaked during 1989. After 1988 Chlamydia trachomatis infections increased which, however, is largely due to the introduction of screening among all visitors of the Amsterdam STD service resulting in improved case-detection. Finally, it appeared that STDs are not randomly distributed over the population but are associated with certain patient characteristics. CONCLUSION: The data provided by STD services reveal an epidemiological pattern for STDs in the Netherlands. The increase in the reported number of gonorrhoea infections among homosexuals together with the increasing number of sexual partners among homosexual males suggest that a group of highly sexually active individuals switch or return to higher risk behaviours. Further research is needed to determine the causes of the described trends and behavioural changes in order to undertake preventive activities.

[Trends in incidence of sexually transmissible disorders in The Netherlands]. / Trends in de frequentie van seksueel overdraagbare aandoeningen in Nederland.

In 1983 the Chief Medical Inspectorate set up a national registration of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), beside the system of statutorily notifiable diseases in the Netherlands. Data for this registration are collected by the nursing staff in STD clinics. Besides diagnosis and sex of the patient epidemiological background information is registered. The data show a decrease in the total number for gonorrhoea and syphilis in the period 1984-1990. Among homosexual men gonorrhoea increased after 1989. A decrease in STD was demonstrated among prostitute women. Further, the share of penicillinase producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae was found to be increasing in various subgroups, but not in homosexual men. Comparison of age, sex, prostitution, and sexual inclination of over 25,000 patients with Chlamydia trachomatis, gonorrhoea or syphilis infections indicate that syphilis was significantly more frequent among older patients and women than gonorrhoea, but less frequent among prostitutes. Syphilis patients were significantly more often visitors of prostitutes than patients with gonorrhoea, and were more often homosexual or bisexual. Chlamydiosis patients were mostly women and younger than gonorrhoea patients, they were less often working as a prostitute and less often homosexual or bisexual.

[Aphasia in the Netherlands; extent of the problem]. / Afasie in Nederland; de omvang van het probleem.

This article reports on a study of the frequency of aphasia in the Netherlands. Using information obtained from a survey of the literature and data from Dutch Sources, we estimated that in 1979 the incidence must have been about 3500 cases and the prevalence about 5100 cases (the first 2 months of the disease and, with regard to the prevalence the period after 2 years, were left out of consideration). Because of some uncertainties these figures must be considered to be crude estimates of the extent of the aphasia problem in the Netherlands.